James C. Peterson, Esq.
Born and raised in New Smyrna Beach, Jamie is an alumnus of the Coronado Pirates, The New Smyrna Beach Middle School Stingrays, and the New Smyrna Beach Barracudas. After graduating from N.S.B.H.S. in 2001, he attended Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, earning a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Later Jamie attended Barry University’s Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law in Orlando and became a member of the Florida Bar in 2010 whereupon he joined his grandfather and father in practice at their firm. In 2014, he was joined by his brother, Matt, and together in 2020, they formed Peterson Law Group, PLLC. In his 10+ years of practice as an attorney, Jamie’s areas of focus have been Real Estate, Estate Planning, and Probate, but what he enjoys most is continuing his family’s tradition of service to the greater New Smyrna Beach area and community.
As an involved member of the community, Jamie has worked with many not-for-profit organizations and has served on both public and charitable boards including the Canal Street Community Redevelopment Agency, the Hub on Canal, and the Southeast Volusia Humane Society. Continuing another family tradition, Jamie has spent countless hours at the New Smyrna Beach Sports Complex coaching youth soccer, baseball, and flag football. As a client you can expect the same level of commitment, whether it is having him close the purchase of a home or business, prepare an Estate Plan to protect you and your family, or to help guide you through the administration of a Trust or Estate after a loved one’s death.
Matthew E. Peterson, Esq
Matthew was born and raised in New Smyrna Beach and still enjoys the lifestyle that this beach town has to offer. He is passionate about service to his community, being a husband and father, and being an aggressive advocate for all his clients.
On the weekends, He prefers spending time with his children and wife, Erin. He also enjoys chasing Mahi-Mahi offshore, taming his constantly encroaching backyard/jungle, swimming, and reading historical non-fiction or historical fiction.
Matt has always been interested in technology, especially as it relates to economics and the law. He studied law and economics in Law school and conducted research into game theory and the law. Consequently, his law practice relies heavily on new forms of technology to conduct legal research and perform e-discovery. He is eagerly waiting for AI legal technology to improve so our firm can utilize that as well.
Matt can rapidly process information, analyze it, and synthesize that information with the facts of your case. If you select him as your lawyer, he has the legal acumen, intelligence, and technological aptitude necessary to successfully litigate against the biggest firms and best lawyers in the country.
He has successfully obtained multiple million-dollar plus settlements and judgments for his clients and would be honored to be selected as your lawyer. He is currently a managing partner of Peterson Law Group, PLLC, heads the Complex Civil Litigation Department, and primarily handles trust and business litigation cases.
Philip B. Peterson, Esq
Phil grew up in New Smyrna Beach and graduated from New Smyrna Beach High School.
He attended Stetson University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance and then his Juris Doctor in 1981. He began his law career at the State Attorney’s Office, where he worked as Special Prosecutor and Felony Division Chief of the Daytona Beach Division for the Seventh Judicial Circuit. He later went into private practice in 1988 with his brother. Since entering into private practice, Phil has represented thousands of clients; he is the head attorney of the Criminal Defense and Family Law Departments. His criminal practice includes felonies, misdemeanors, violations of probation, domestic violence, expungements and sealing of records. His family practice includes dissolution of marriage, paternity, custody, modifications of child support and alimony, injunctions and adoptions. Phil is extremely proud of the thousands of adoptions he has handled over the past 30 years, helping children find their forever families.
Laura J. Klossner, Board Certified Specialist
Laura Klossner has lived in Florida for over 30 years, and practiced law in many Florida counties. She attended Stetson University for undergrad and worked as a Social Studies teacher for several years. She then worked several other professional jobs before deciding to attend law school. She went to FAMU College of Law in downtown Orlando, then earned an LL.M. in Criminal Law from the University at Buffalo Law School. Her legal career began in 2009 in Orlando, at the Office of the Public Defender for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, where she was promoted to Juvenile Division Manager. While an assistant public defender she worked on cases involving juvenile delinquency, mental health and adult crimes including several murder cases with extensive media coverage. She earned Board Certification in Juvenile Law, then worked as an attorney for Guardian ad Litem, representing children in foster care, and then as a Regional Conflict Counsel attorney representing parents in dependency court.
In her free time, Laura enjoys spending time with her family, traveling with friends, doing DIY projects around her house, and enjoying the Florida weather at the beach or on the golf course. She is also an advisor and active alumna of the Epsilon Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta at Stetson University.
Alexander J. Kollmer, Esq
Alex was born in Pennsylvania, but raised Port Orange, Florida. After graduating from Spruce Creek High School in 2007, he attended Florida State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and received his Juris Doctorate from St. Thomas University School of Law. With the experience of living in different locations throughout Florida, from Tallahassee to Miami, Alex believes he has obtained a better understanding of what it truly means to be a Floridian: the profound respect for how the tapestry of cultures within our great state coincide.
In his limited free time, Alex enjoys golfing, playing video games, and watching movies. Whenever he gets the chance, he’s a big fan of attending live entertainment such as concerts, standups, theater, to live sporting events. Alex is, above all, a wanderlust at heart and an avid traveler with the goal of visiting, domestically, every state and, internationally, every continent.
Alex’s areas of focus are Civil Litigation, Real Estate, Estate Planning, and Probate. Particularly adept at Real Estate transactions, Alex also operates his own Real Estate Brokerage, Kollmer Realty, making himself capable of handling all aspects of your next purchase or sale. Alex is empathetic and always tries to see things from the perspective of his clients. He knows what might seem like minor issues to some could overwhelm the ones experiencing them and counsels accordingly. Alex sees all clients as people, and not just a fee, deserving of respect and understanding. So, if you choose Alex as your attorney, you can relax knowing he will be as transparent and responsive as possible while providing the top tier legal services can expect from any of us at Peterson Law Group.
Jessica L. Drenkhahn, J.D., LL.M.
Jessica Drenkhahn was born in Georgia, but raised in Orlando, FL. She attended the University of Central Florida and earned her bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies. She then went on to earn her Juris Doctorate at Barry University’s Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law in Orlando, FL in 2021. She worked as a real estate paralegal throughout undergrad and law school and became a member of the Florida Bar in 2023. She subsequently earned an LL.M. degree in Real Property Development from the University of Miami’s School of Law in 2024. Her areas of focus have been Real Estate, Business Law, and Civil Litigation, and she has assisted clients in the preparation and negotiation of asset purchase agreements, facilitated title closings, real estate purchase agreements, leases, operating agreements, and other general commercial contracts. She has also prepared and filed motions relating to property issues, including foreclosure actions, evictions, unlawful detainers, and petitions for partition.
In her free time, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family and animals, being a mother of three boys, traveling with her partner, and enjoying the best part of what Florida has to offer, hot days, sandy beaches and beautiful waters.
